Rumour: Zelda Live-Action Movie Eyes "Popular" Princess Pick

Definitely not who I would've picked, but at least it's not Zendaya (great actress for the record, would just be a terrible fit for this)

Realistically that would be a horrible financial decision

'Like an elf' is about the level of fidelity to the source material I expect from every aspect of the production of this film.

I genuinely hope that's not the case.

Almost certainly a bogus rumor because of one relatively overlooked tidbit we already have about the movie: they're apparently looking to cast a young adult actor (or younger) as Link.

https://youtu.be/kajXJrqSkJU

Wes Ball, the director of the Zelda movie, told the lead actor from his last film (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), Owen Teague, that it was a shame he was too old to play Link. Teague's only 26...as is Hunter Schafer. And if they're presumably looking for a Link actor who's 18-21, it stands to reason they would take a comparable approach for Zelda with how frequently they're depicted as around the same in terms of age. I think DanielRPK is already a dubious source in the first place as well?

I’ve been waiting for some casting rumours! I don’t know how much faith I have since she was already a bit of a fan-favorite frontrunner, so its kinda easy to throw her name around for buzz, but who knows. Fancasting has been having their way recently.

@Bigmanfan The whole Zendaya complaint is about as weird as complaint about Pedro Pascal being in so many movies lmao.

@PikaPhantom DanielRPK has been pretty accurate when it comes to his scoops on films so I pretty much trust him. L

@batmanbud2 wow

@batmanbud2 with what kind of cast? Y'all typed up stuff y'all can say it with y'all's chest. Don't be scared 🤨🤬 she's a decent pick she looks like Zelda.

Because let's be real what you said is giving bad history vibes when -ist saw black ppl on tv, or in public and started seething.

This would be really cool and I hope it's true. Also I really hope the people being hateful here change their hearts. We all deserve dignity.

@Joker1234 Pedro has enormous talent.. his views outside his work never affects his work.

@ChakraStomps Push what?

@Joker1234 I mean I'm not complaining about her for the record. I like her as an actress quite a bit. She would just be a terrible fit for this. The Pedro Pascal complaint is silly though. The man is great in everything he's in.

Tbh, you could do worse. She could be a solid Zelda once she learns more about the games.

@Hades_BT the fans deserve dignity too

@PikaPhantom That's a good catch actually. I wouldn't say it completely invalidates this rumor (Zelda could just be older than Link), but it is definitely interesting.

Honestly I don't care who they cast as long they portray the characters as accurately as possible from the games.

At least it's not Rachel Zegler.

Sure, I bet Nintendo really think Hunter's scenes in Euphoria's episode one is the baggage for their frachise. Maybe Roblox makes a movie and can cast Hunter. Roblox is full of those fans

@Zyph tbh I'm just hoping they don't make it a romantic story. Please don't make it romantically motivated. Keep it about a hero going on an adventure to help/ save a kingdom. Hope things stay platonic

@ChakraStomps yeah man all actors should be held back by the things they've previously been in! that makes a lot of sense! Edward Norton played a neo nazi once so he should never been in anything that's remotely child friendly!

@ChakraStomps watch literally any episode of it's always sunny in philadelphia and then look at who played Luigi in the mario movie. you are unfairly pushing against this actress without actually thinking about what you say for more than a second.

The only casting rumor I truly care about is in regard to whoever is playing Tingle.

@ChakraStomps I mean, Chris Pratt has also played some jerks. Charlie Day almost brought about a Kaiju apocalypse. Eddie Murphy did loads of kids movies and loads of movies definitely not for kids! I don't think this is as big a deal as you're making out.

Hunter definitely has the look in those pics, but I've not seen any of her work. The idea some have expressed here - that ONLY a fan of the series should be cast - is not one I can agree with. Plenty of actors playing beloved characters aren't fans of the series they're in- Matt Smith was a terrific Doctor Who, for instance, despite having little interest in the series before his casting. I'm sure any actors cast in the Zelda movie will receive a crash course in the series endorsed by Nintendo.

And a cameo from Robin Williams' daughter Zelda would be lovely.

Zelda games have basically no story. The actors don’t need to know anything about Zelda to act in this movie. Some long blond hair a piece and it’s half done.

She's been speculated on for how many years? I mean better fit for her than Tom Holland as Link.

@BrandyBongos Don't forget, Hunter Schafer was in the English dub for a PG-rated Mamoru Hosoda anime film called Belle.

The film is really great, and it shows how Hunter Schafer can star in more family-friendly films.

yeah, that ain't gonna happen.

It'd be one way to commit box office suicide.

I don't know who any of these celebrities are anymore. I stopped paying attention to new ones after Robin Williams died, and stopped watching live action all together after Norm went.

Get off my lawn

Hunter Schafer is great; absolutely support that pick!

I think Nintendo is a smart company who likes money, might as well do that Snow White actress at that point.

I don’t care what your opinion is, this hurts Nintendo’s core audience that would be the majority of people to potentially watch this movie

@Bigmanfan Zeldaya

@Zeebor15 you really aren't missing much, buddy.

@Lady_rosalina I'm pretty indifferent when it comes to romance in Zelda games. I'd welcome it though but yes, not too much. If they will perhaps adapt, let's say, Skyward Sword, now that's a game with pretty obvious romance elements in it and personally I'd be fine with that.

This would be an awful decision, the movie would flop so hard if this is true.

“Popular pick” well it’s seemingly not popular with NintendoLife, nevermind the majority of casual gamers/watchers.

@Hydra_Spectre Wow! I didn't know that. I've only really started hearing her name because of the Zelda rumours, so I'm not familiar with her work. If anything I'd say being a good voice actor is an extra qualification for this film. I know it's going to be live action, but there's likely to also be a heavy CGI component, which means actors reacting to things they can't see. Good voice actors are used to that.

@N00BiSH I'm going to go nuts and say- Daniel Craig as Tingle.

That would be cool. I can see it.

She would be perfect. She was so great in Euphoria.

I think this would be a bad idea for several reasons. Also don't think this rumor is true. A lot of FANS want Hunter as Zelda, doesn't mean Nintendo is actually looking to even pick Hunter.

If Nintendo wants to acually make a great movie, AND not die in the box office, they'll pick someone else. I'll just leave it at that

@Elitepatriot A woman. Like Hunter Schafer.

@BrandyBongos I will die on the Danny DeVito hill

@N00BiSH As much as I think Craig has largely untapped comedy chops, DeVito is an infinitely superior choice.

I wonder how much Miyamoto has to say about casting. If this goes through, there won't be a Nintendo adaptation for another 30 years.

@HyruleWanderer Zelda is rather manly and a real hero, always saving the unnamed princess. I wonder why they renamed him Link in BotW.

Could it be that the Hollywood idiots think Zelda is the hero???

Kristen Stewart as a silent Link

I would love this more than anything in the world... but i doubt it tbh

Also seeing a lot of these comments here hurts me, not surprised tho

Honestly I thought Chris Pratt would play every single role in the upcoming Zelda movie

Comments are about what I expected.😐 I couldn't care less who is cast, as long as they nail the role.

I forget how fash this site’s users lean until an article like this rolls along. You’d think blatant transphobia would be against the site’s rules, it’s a protected characteristic under the UK Equality Act (yes still, despite the Mould Queen’s big money campaign). Then again, a lot of the Pride content died when Kate left so perhaps it’s a conscious decision.

@HDPlanet Same this is really eye opening and disgusting. I don’t get how everyone can be so hateful about something that doesn’t concern them.

Interesting. I haven't seen Euphoria but I have watched all of The Hunger Games movies (well at least I think I have, hard to keep up) and I didn't recognize the picture. Looks the part though.

That's not the interesting part, that's boring. What I found interesting is I've already spent part of the day discussing over on @Pushsquare if they'd write Lev out of season 3 of TLOU, or at least change the relevant back story, b/c reasons. So if Hunter has a shot so does Lev I guess. I do think Ian Alexander is too old though, they'll probably want someone much younger than Dever.

@nessisonett So I looked up fash b/c I'm old, out of the loop, and American and the Brits have all the best slang. (And I don't think I was pronouncing it correctly in my head.) Does it have some context appropriate meaning besides more than fascist I should be aware of for future reference? I know TERF is kind of specific and transphobic is too long to type, well except for the person above me, so I'm wondering if this is new? There's like a new thing every day now. ETTD, TACO, all these govt abbreviations. Hard to keep up.

As for the make up of the site, how do you forget, it's a gaming site, assume Incel first, ask questions later. I've been annoying people here for 14 years, (no wait 17yrs, forgot the Covid time shift) and Kate was like the only outside the mold person here in all that time. Wait almost forgot Alana Hughes (sp?) but they never stood out to me the way Kate did.

tldr Expect the daily storm, enjoy the occasional rainbow. 🌈

PS - When I wake up in the morning I'm expecting these last few posts to be deleted and all the rest to remain. 😩

@Hydra_Spectre Hunter was in belle? That anime with the pink haired girl based on beauty and the beast?! No way

@HyruleWanderer it's not gonna kill the movie.... 🤨

I'm sorry but y'all are mad weird, y'all faint when y'all realize how many fictional male characters are voiced by woman in anime and cartoons. And be surprised how many women played men in live action movies... That y'all didn't know. Shakespeare plays had female actors as men

@Elitepatriot SHE

@saiyantrunks79 she is not a guy

Mods need to sort this comment section out pronto

Should be Zendaya.

She's perfect for the role!

She’d be great! And wow, this comment section. Transphobia is absolutely pathetic.

I hope she gets it. And this comments thread is disappointing to say the least.

Second comment nailed it. This would be a really bad financial decision for obvious reasons.

No responsible party is going to invite massive controversy to what they surely hope will be another billion dollar mainstream success.

As an ignorant on the subject, is it normal to not have the cast already done "just" two years before release? Seems late to me.

not seen any of the stuff she's been in but she looks the part

and thank you mods for making this comment section barely readable

Pfft, this casting makes no sense at all as everyone knows Zelda is a boy.

Just checked what was happening and somehow I don't understand the problem. If she looks similar and (I've not watched anything she's done) seems she's a good actress, then the film should be fine. At the end of the day we all want a film that we can enjoy because it's what we expect to watch.

@batmanbud2 i know

Had I any expectations about a videogame based movie, I'd probably be disappointed. But I don't, so meh.

@Zuljaras why not?

Maybe as Shiek, otherwise its just a no for me.

This movie is based off a very traditional game so it just isn’t a good fit. Would work better with a completely new IP.

@drumnbayes It is also pretending all the audience is going to be comfortable with this person as the pick, in which a good portion of people are not. Hate to say that, but it is simply the truth.

Very bad choice.

Don't see what the problem is, she looks the part.

@Bigmanfan Why wouldn’t she be good fit?
Let’s be constructive!

@Euler yes because everything the government says is correct and shouldn't be questioned at all

Don't know why people are so fixated on Zendaya, she's far too big and cool for this.

Whilst Hunter seems pitch perfect, she looks the part already and I've seen her have this quite optimistic light under her performances even in a state of despair which I'd think would be great for the role.

@Hero-of-WiiU no one was happy with the Chriss Pratt casting either but that movie still did amazingly well.

@JPEGMakima Yeah but the reasons for neither being popular are definitely not the same

@Ldory12 dude stop.

I was about to say that Hunter is such a perfect casting choice for Zelda, that she literally looks just like how I imagine a live action Zelda should look...and then I read the comments.

Cause, good Lord, the meltdown you guys are having for the most bigoted of opinions is downright embarrassing.

Because of that, I'm hoping this rumour is true and that they double down on the casting choices and cast Elliot Page as Link.

@TrowaAyanami Fastest way to a box office flop but to each their own. I think it's a bad idea for purely practical, financial reasons. Divisive casting choices will reduce the overall box office take, it's simple math.

Looked her up and I think she is a good fit.
And thats what I care for. Who is to say that the Princess is a CIS-woman? And considering that the Games often hints to a "Growing into the Princess Role" - Zelda - such a choice would be strong as she might now how to protrait those struggels naturally.

And to the comment section. I never thought the Nintendo community is like that. I expected it from WoW oder CoD.

"like an elf" lol
I really hope this doesn't happen, it would suck if Hunter Schaefer was cast as Zelda.

@Zauz why?

@dartmonkey It’s about more than just moderation of a single article though. This happens every single time an article is even remotely linked to a minority group. I understand that you can’t choose the audience you cultivate but every time there’s some sort of ban, another takes their place to spew blatant hate speech. They must feel comfortable doing so for a reason, and so there’s clearly more that can be done to stamp it out.

@nessisonett

This is a gaming website...which is a nesting ground for right wingers. Even trying to delude oneself that the core audience from Nintendo website is less conservative than say a PC gaming website or the like would be a fool's dream.

@Yomerodes it's almost like conservatives are half, if not more (in fact, certainly more, if you look at the last election and the current administration's approval rating), of the population.

She looks the part for sure! I bet she would be a great Zelda

@N00BiSH fingers crossed its danny devito

Well thanks to a good number of the people in the comments here, I understand why people think this movie would flop, but casting a trans woman as Zelda would not kill this movie. Look at how many Disney films are actually rubbish and still make back their budget anyway (which unfortunately includes the new live action Lilo & Stitch remake). This is a Zelda film. It's going to find success no matter what any of you hateful bigots have to say, and as long as the actors portray their characters well, they can cast whoever they damn well please.

@Bigmanfan @Joker1234 I agree she wouldn't fit, but I also agree that I have no clue why people are hating on Pedro Pascal lately. He's awesome!

She'd work! I'm just glad it's true to the games. These days it's like you're not allowed to cast certain ethnicities... *ahem*whitepeople. I just hope they don't turn her into a Marry Sue "girl boss". I think ToTK's Zelda was so incredible. Not for being more manly than the men, but for her sacrifice and dedication — very moving!

I’m all for this! She would be a great choice. Very good actor, looks just like Zelda now that I think about it.

I still won’t care that much about this movie. Every Zelda game is different and movie should do it’s own thing too. Can’t go into this hoping it will fit YOUR expectations of what Zelda is.

I think she will be a perfect fit. Hard to think of anyone better now that I think about it and look her up.

Link will be the tough one to cast.

@KayFiOS just as many Disney remakes have been absolute flops lol (see: Snow White). Not to mention other big name and big budget films. You can insult your audience, but there will often be consequences.

Conversely, Hogwarts Legacy was a massive hit despite being boycotted by trans activists and blackballed by the gaming media. Twitter is not real life.

@nessisonett Completely agree - makes me quite sad that I frequent this website so often, when clearly a large chunk of the community is so intolerant

I find it funny I knew nothing about this actress other than her being a popular fan pick as the article states, and then I see several comments asserting this mainstream and popular pick would in fact make the film bomb, with no explanation or alternative pick offered, just a truism.

I had to read much further to gather what was going on. They won’t say why it’s a bad pick because it’s a bigoted reason.

C'mon lads, "cancel culture" and "go woke, go broke" are both made up things that don't really exist and are stupid distractions for a zeitgeist culture war over the internet.

I was just going to say it would be funny if whoever they pick goes on some rants about damsel in distress trope, but it looks like that point is covered and also set on fire lol

Only thing I'm not looking forward to with this movie is the inevitable extreme reactions regardless of who is picked and how the movie turns out. I plan to put my head in the sand about any and all coverage in the lead up. I just want to enjoy the novelty of a Zelda movie, same as Mario.

@Zuljaras the majority of fans would not boycott the Zelda movie for this casting. You are as much a vocal minority as the people that boycotted Hogwarts Legacy but you're too in your own head to realise this.

@ottoecamn

A 50/50 split would be expected in most circumstances, like for example as you mention at your country recent elections.

But in a gaming site?, it doesn't matter if it is Nintendo centric, they hire LGTB writers or if they try to hide pretty much any mention of Hogwarts Legacy, the majority of the userbase will still lean to the right.

@PikminMarioKirby I’m genuinely curious here, why would this hurt Nintendo’s “core audience”? She looks close enough to Zelda, and even if she’s not that knowledgeable about the games that’s not a requirement for a quality performance

@Zuljaras I don't expect everyone to be left leaning I just hope that people will not have unnecessary hate in their hearts for people different than themselves! Common decency!

I'm left leaning american, I just think this would be a bad financial decision because a lot of people and families do not want an actress that has transitioned in a family movie.
If I'm wrong about the financial impact, this doesn't even come from a personal place of hate. Just my thoughts

@JPEGMakima Well, if truth is something we've come to decide is "unnecessary hate," then it's quite a sad world we live in. Yes, some of the now taken down comments could be considered hateful, but the large majority were not. Simply a different opinion

@HyruleWanderer Have you noticed my comments have been taken down too? I don't agree with censorship of opinions but I also do not agree that hate is truth. Your opinion on this actress is no more true than my own.

I started reading this news not knowing at all who this person was and thinking this was a kind of boring decision. From the appearance, zelda just needs to be a blonde woman and thats it? acting is of course a different thing but then how much does zelda need to act in her role of a kidnapped princess (unless they go BOTW vibes).

But now I am leaving this news with a whole discussion on transgender, politics and users fighting each other which at least to me came outta nowhere! If we extrapolate this small interaction as an example of what would happen if they casted this person as Zelda, I think it would be kinda bad for marketing purposes for the movie. A tough one from the start.

@JPEGMakima Well I suppose it comes down to what you think has been said that is hateful. I would say that we may not always like the truth, but that it isn't hateful, but rather "offensive." (In that you can take offense to it, even when there really is no reason to) For example, if I said I didn't want the Rock to play Ronald McDonald in a movie, you may take offense to that, but there is nothing hateful about that. This is the same thing. Something that you may take offense to is not always hateful, just like truth.

@dartmonkey Good reply. 👍 (Though on 2nd thought if I think it's a good reply, then maybe not? 🤷‍♂️)

Anyway, about what you said.

"that "perhaps" we're just cool with it. Is that the impression we've given over all these years?"

Well you wouldn't be the first people who bailed on the trans community. I have no idea what's going on in Spain. None. But the US is currently a cesspool.

Disney and Pixar we're like, Yeah on second thought, no.

https://www.indiewire.com/news/breaking-news/pixar-trans-storyline-removed-win-or-lose-streaming-series-1235077688/

Then cool blue California governor with aspirations of a Presidency was like, I'll pave my way driving the bus over the trans community. And he's since backed it up over them a few times for good measure.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/06/gavin-newsom-trans-people-sports

So while I don't see you guys as bigots, though let's face it it's always been a bit of a sausage fest in games media, I could see if you guys decided you needed to be a little more tolerant of the intolerant, if only for financial reasons. Kind of like how we can pay you guys now.

Remember when Nintendo said - We'll never be on mobile - and then they were. And then Nintendo said - We don't do dlc, we ship complete games - and then Smash opened the dlc floodgates. Times change.

Nice job cleaning it all up this morning. Good luck with that if Hunter gets the job. Gonna be lit.

@Debo626 What's so wrong with taking your kids to see a trans actor playing a character in a movie? What do you think will happen?

@Yomerodes yeah, that's cuz the hobby of gaming, while mostly apolitical, will still appeal to a large right wing audience (it's undeniable that the primary target audience for videogames are young men. and that demographic has been leaning more and more conservative, so unless you make your website explicitly left wing like "the Mary Sue" for example, that's the audience you're gonna get).

All I’ll say is: bad decision, I won’t go into why.

@OwenGamer22 Not going into it makes it pretty clear why.

@Debo626 No one said you're not allowed? You're acting like a victim in this when all I've said is that this is a valid casting choice. If that offends you then don't watch the movie simple as.

@Debo626 and don't get me started on pro-trans people being just as bad. One side wants people to live as they choose and the other wants those people "reformed" or dead. There will be always be a side less morally wrong than the other.

@swoose Exactly. The intellectual cowardice on display from these people in the comment section is actually embarrassing to watch.

Like, they can't even give a single reason or explanation for why exactly THIS specific actress would be "bad for business".

@nessisonett spot on with the comment about Kate leaving.
Quite why anyone at NL thought it would be okay to have an open comment section on this topic I don't know.
Clearly no lessons learned from the countless other times that this exact same thing has happened on the site. Really disheartening as a LGBT+ reader.

@euler They deleted your comment? I think this crowd broke Nintendo Life. For what it's worth I thought it was fine, which I guess is why it wasn't? (Don't want you to think I narc'd on you, really it looked fine to me. If I had narc'd on you, I've done it before, I wouldn't tell you.) Still dont' know how or why my comments keep staying around but no one else? Maybe they're using AI to target certain words and auto-delete the posts?

I'm reposting your comment, w/ a few minor edits, to test out my AI theory. Feel free to ask me to take it down if you like, I don't want anyone getting in trouble on my account.

Yeah, some big companies saw the writing on the wall and targeted the majority of customers. Nintendo would be wise to do the same. And when you’ve lost Gavin Newsom (the guy who directed the clerk of San Fran to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples).…

@Untempered-Link "Quite why anyone at NL thought it would be okay to have an open comment section on this topic I don't know."

My best guess? They didn't know. I follow this stuff and i didn't know. I read the name, saw the pic, read a few comments, didn't know. Eventually I finally figured it out. For all the wrong reasons.

Though Liam is pretty good so he probably knew. Maybe this was a test case, or a honeypot? 😁